From high-tech lasers to topical creams, doctors reveal how to make pigmentation a thing of the past

It's possible to fake flawless skin with foundation, but wouldn't you rather not have to? Whether you rely on a high-tech laser or a lo-fi topical cream, with the right plan, you can erase pigmentation, and—yes!—make cover-up optional. The first step? Identify your pigmentation's provenance: "Diagnosis is crucial," New York City derm Dennis Gross, MD, says. "Not only is the right treatment key, the wrong treatment can make discoloration darker."

Dermatologist Tips for Uneven Skin Tone

Dermatologist Tips for Uneven Skin Tone

Not all dark spots are created equal: They stem from three sources. UV exposure can trigger a growth of excess skin cells called solar lentigo, aka sun spots, liver spots, or age spots. The cells, pigmented with melanin, cluster together, forming a circular mark a few shades deeper than your skin tone. Estrogen fluctuations due to pregnancy or birth control pills stimulate melanocyte cells to work overtime and create melasma, unwanted pools of melanin in the skin; unlike sun spots, these patches don't stay confined to a nice circle. And injuries such as a curling-iron burn or a swollen pimple can also jump-start melanin production (especially in Asian, Hispanic, or black skin), leaving a stubborn mark called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).